Can I swim in compression?

Compression care · summer

The short answer

Yes, you can. Compression socks and stockings can be worn in the pool and the sea, and a well made garment will cope with a swim. The catch is what the water does to the fabric over a summer of use, and how to look after your hosiery afterwards so the support holds up.

If compression has been prescribed by a clinician, follow their advice on compression level, style and fit. That includes wear in the water: if you have been given advice on when to keep your garment on, that advice comes before anything you read here.

What chlorine, salt and sand do

The part of a compression garment that does the work is the elastane, the stretchy fibre knitted through the fabric that provides the graduated squeeze. Elastane is also the part that suffers in the water.

Chlorinated pool water and salt water may break down elastic fibres faster than everyday wear does. The effect is gradual and easy to miss, because the garment can look perfectly healthy while the pressure quietly fades. A sock that has spent a fortnight of pool sessions can still look like new, yet give less support than it did before the holiday.

Sand brings a different problem. Grit works its way into the knit and rubs at the fibres from inside, so a beach day can be harder on a garment than a pool day. None of this puts the water off limits. It means the water has a cost, and you get to choose which pair pays it.

We will cover washing, wear and knowing when a garment is due for replacement in a separate guide later this year.

The old pair for the pool

A retired pair is one that is intact but past its best. It still goes on with a bit of effort, the fabric is sound, and there are no ladders, holes or thin patches. It has simply lost a little of its original firmness over months of wear and washing. That pair has already given you its best support, so the pool can have what is left.

Your newest pair is the one delivering the pressure it was measured for. Chlorine may age the fibres, so keeping that pair dry protects the support you paid for.

If every pair you own is either brand new or genuinely worn out, that is a sign the rotation could use a spare. A second pair costs less than replacing a good one early, and it is the pair you will be glad of at the poolside.

Rinse, dry, rotate

Whichever pair went in the water, the routine afterwards is the same, and it takes five minutes.

Rinse

Rinse the garment in fresh, cool water as soon as you can after the swim. Chlorine and salt keep working on the fibres while they sit in the fabric, so the sooner they are out, the better. A tap, a shower or a bottle of water over a sink all do the job. There is no need for detergent at the poolside; the proper wash can wait until you are home.

Dry

Dry flat, out of direct heat and direct sun. Lay the garment on a clean towel in the shade and let it take its time. Never dry compression on a radiator or in a tumble dryer, because heat is harder on elastane than the pool ever was. Wringing stretches the knit, so press the water out gently in a rolled towel instead.

Rotate

Run two pairs in rotation: wear one, wash one. Each pair gets a proper rest between wears, the elastic recovers, and both last longer. On holiday the rotation really earns its keep, because yesterday's pair can dry while today's is on your legs.

Sleeves, skin and sun

Compression arm sleeves follow the same rules as socks and stockings. The water is fine, an older sleeve is the smarter choice for it, and a rinse and a flat dry afterwards keep it in shape.

Sun care needs a little thought around any compression garment. Apply sun cream first and let it absorb properly before the garment goes on, because creams and oils may affect elastic fibres over time. Through the day, keep an eye on the places where the edge of a garment sits against sun warmed skin; a line that never bothers you at home can start to rub on a long afternoon outside.

After a sea swim, rinse the salt off your skin as well as out of the fabric. Dried salt left on the skin can feel itchy under the next day's wear.

If you would rather not wear them

Perfectly reasonable. Plenty of people prefer to keep their compression dry, and a swim without it is easily managed.

Put your legs up on a lounger between swims. A walk in the shallow end gives your calves some gentle work while the water carries your weight. When you come out, dry your legs properly and put the garment back on once your skin is dry, so it goes on smoothly and sits where it should.

If your usual garment feels heavy in hot weather, light compression styles and lower deniers exist for exactly this time of year. Our UK based team can help you find one that suits, on 0115 932 0144.

Buying a second pair? Check the size guide on the product page before ordering, because correct fit is what makes the compression worth wearing.

This guide is general care advice for compression garments worn in the water. It is not medical advice. For prescribed compression, always follow your clinician's guidance.